District III Report - 2009/09
Wings Over West Virginia — Jackson County Aeromodelers (Cottageville, WV)
On Saturday, May 30, and Sunday, May 31, the Jackson County Aeromodelers of Cottageville, West Virginia, held a fly-in titled Wings Over West Virginia. The event was held at the airport in Millwood, West Virginia, which proved to be an excellent venue.
The fly-in was the brainchild of Chuck Westfall, who is building a strong reputation for organizing modeling events in West Virginia. Several food and hobby vendors were on hand to help make the event a success, and Sunday morning included an optional worship service.
Although not a competitive flying event, trophies were awarded in several categories, voted on by the full-scale pilots’ club of the airport:
- Best 3-D airplane
- Best sport model
- Best helicopter
- Best military
- Best of show
This was the first event of its kind in the Ravenswood area, and attendance exceeded expectations, with a large static display on Saturday and strong spectator and pilot turnout both days. The full-scale airport provided facilities, and the models used the taxiway as the runway, which was more than adequate.
Chuck is already planning next year’s fly-in and expects it to be bigger and better. Thanks to Chuck for growing model aviation in West Virginia, and thanks to Mark Radcliff for providing the report.
Family Fly — Buc-Le Aerosportsmen (Quakertown, PA)
On May 30, 2009, the Buc-Le Aerosportsmen of Quakertown, Pennsylvania, held their annual Family Fly after extensive advertising in local newspapers. The purpose was to invite nearby residents to visit the field, try a flight simulator, and experience flying an RC airplane with a qualified instructor on a buddy box.
All participants received a certificate of initial student pilot status and a pair of cadet wings. Prizes were awarded, including:
- Items donated by local hobby shops
- A one-year membership to Buc-Le Aerosportsmen
- Rides in a full-scale airplane at the Quakertown airport
As a result of the event, a few participants joined the club on the spot and took AMA applications to be mailed later. This is an effective and fun way to recruit new members. Kudos to the Buc-Le members who participated for a job well done.
Associate Vice President Ken Karpinski provided the Buc-Le report.
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
